ELECTRONICS
connection can be noticeably slower, often due to the
need to resend some of the data to correct for errors.
There are several reasons for these poor results. First
and foremost, the antenna built into the laptop is usually
located deep inside your boat. What signal actually
does reach it has had its strength reduced each time it
passed through a group of masts or the structures of
other vessels, and the signal is further attenuated when
it passes through your own boat’s cabin sides. The
signal transmitted by the laptop wi-fi adapter must
follow the same path back to the marina access point,
with equal complications.
The single most important thing you can do to
improve wi-fi performance aboard is to mount an
external antenna that delivers a stronger signal to the
wi-fi adapter installed on a computer below decks.
This will enhance both the received and the transmitted
signal. It is important to remember that wi-fi is a
two-way connection. If the marina access point can’t
“hear” your transmissions, you can’t communicate.
Adding an external antenna is not as straightforward
as it might seem. At 2.4GHz, a significant amount of
the signal can be lost in the cable. Therefore, selecting a
low-loss transmission cable is a must. This type of cable
is expensive compared to that commonly used with
television or marine VHF antennas, but it’s well worth
the price.
Another cause for poor wi-fi results aboard is the lack
of sufficient transmitting power. Admittedly, this doesn’t
affect reception, but if your signal doesn’t reach the
access point antenna, you can’t establish a connection.
Transmitting power varies from a low of 30–50
milliwatts to about 500 milliwatts for some of the
more powerful wi-fi adapters.
One solution is to enhance the wi-fi signal by
employing a bidirectional amplifier that boosts the
strength of both the transmitted signal and the received
signal. Amplifying the transmitted signal is fairly
straightforward, whereas improving the strength
and readability of the received signal is a challenge.
At 2.4GHz, there is a relatively constant level of
background noise. As the strength of the wi-fi signal
decreases, it becomes lost in the ever-present
background noise. To improve readability, the amplifier
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